Just how important is it? Consider that Jennifer Cunningham, who talked to me about her work at SEIU 1199, has decided to give up direct lobbying of legislators and officials to focus solely on her work on political and communications consulting as a partner in SKDKnickerbocker. She had previously split her time as an “of counsel” lobbyist for Cordo & Company, but left when her ex-husband was elected attorney general and Andrew Cuomo, whose 2006 campaign for attorney general she managed.